He was born in Wabash on March 31, 1930, to the late Maurice and Jennie Reed.

John grew up on a farm, where he learned to rise early and work hard. He served in the United States Army at Fort Knox. He married Marlene Bouse in 1955, graduated from Purdue University and began work as a high school science teacher. For two years, he and Marlene taught agriculture and home economics in Kisumu, Kenya. He worked in management and sales for Allis-Chalmers for 20 year in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Virginia.

His family moved to Roanoke in 1977, and owned and operated Curry Copy Center in downtown Roanoke until his retirement in 1997.

John was a very talented and creative craftsman, with a special gift for making beautiful and practical art including stained glass, wrought iron and woodwork. No one he met remained a stranger for long. He was an active volunteer for churches and charities, where he gave freely of his time and talents. He was a true original.

John was preceded in death by his first wife of 45 years, Marlene; and his sister, Ruth Long.

He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of the last 10 years, Lucy Philips Reed; son, Greg Reed and daughter-in-law Beth and heir sons, Joseph, Kaleb and Chance; daughter Teresa and son-in-law, Tim Parry, and their children Bess, Brook and Jacob, and great-grandsons Ryder and John; daughter Judi and son-in-law, Paul Anderson, and their sons Drew, Tyler and Blake; sisters Mary Lou Kendall, Helen Dawes, Dorothy Brouhard and Nancy Meyer; brother Max Reed; and countless other family members and friends.

A memorial service celebrating his life was held in the Sanctuary of Second Presbyterian Church on Dec. 8. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Roanoke Rescue Mission or to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.